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[Tracker]

Garrett Waggoner: Late Bloomer Makes the Most of Football Courtesy: Dartmouth           Release: 11/04/2013  

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  Photo courtesy of: Doug Austin

 

 

 

 

By Bruce Wood

Sammy McCorkle well remembers meeting with 6-foot-1, 225-pound Dartmouth free safety Garrett Waggoner back when he was recruiting him out of Riverview High School in Sarasota, Fla.

“He was an outside linebacker and he wasn’t as big as he is now, that’s for sure,” the Big Green’s secondary coach said with a chuckle after a recent practice. “We were sitting there and I said, ‘We want to look at you as a possible safety.’ He gave me this look like I was crazy.

“I said, ‘You are fast. You’re going to be big. There are some things that we can work on to get you better. You can do it.’ ”

Although the transition would require Waggoner to improve his change of direction and develop his ability to play the deep pass, McCorkle had an ace in the hole convincing him it was possible.

“I know you won’t believe it but when I was in high school I was an inside linebacker,” said McCorkle, who was listed at 5-9, 182 when he played safety for the Florida Gators. “I told Wags, ‘When I went to Florida I had to learn to be a safety just like you are going to have to. You have the ability. You are much bigger than I was. You are much faster than I was. So you’ve got an advantage there.’ ”

As it turned out, the transition was relatively seamless for Waggoner — the grandson of a Canadian Football League running back who played at Tulane and the son of a Florida Gator running back — who long dreamed of following in their footsteps, although on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

“I started playing when I was 6- or 7-years-old in a flag league in Sarasota and was a quarterback,” said the Waggoner. “My first year in pads was when I was 9 or 10 and my dad was one of the assistant coaches. After the first day of tackling we came home and my mom said, ‘How did he do?’

“My dad said, ‘Well, we have a hitter.’ I guess I’ve had that defensive mindset ever since we started tackling. You are either the hammer or the nail and I prefer to be the hammer.”

A hammer is a pretty good description of Waggoner according to Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens, who admitted to worrying before the season that a free safety his size would face extra scrutiny from officials because of the added emphasis this year on targeted hits.

“He is a physical guy,” Teevens said. “He’s someone that is going to intimidate people. He’s a big ol’ guy who runs well and likes to hit.”

An academic all-state selection in Florida, Waggoner took recruiting visits to so-called “Little Ivies” — Amherst, Williams and Middlebury of the NESCAC, along with trips to Holy Cross, Cornell and Dartmouth.

“I was smaller, I had marginal strength and questionable speed,” said Waggoner. “It was the whole nine yards, but fortunately Dartmouth took a chance on me.”

If he didn’t necessarily have the ideal measurables as a high school player, the Sarasota Herald Tribune honorable-mention pick who lettered three times at Riverview and captained the Rams as a senior had the intangibles coaches love. Just ask defensive coordinator Don Dobes.

“He’s the quarterback of our back end,” said Dobes. “We call him the bus driver because he makes sure we have 11 guys playing as one. He’s really bought into that leadership thing besides being a captain. He really loves the X’s and O’s part.

“I hate to say 110 percent because I always believe there’s only 100, but he’s a 100 percent-plus football player. He’s a little bit of a throwback. He reminds me of guys that played in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Everything’s about football, and how do I get better.”

One other quality Dobes might have mentioned is loyalty. For as much as he wanted to play football at the highest level he could, Waggoner did not give into temptation when that opportunity presented itself.

“I got a call from Duke late in the recruiting process, the end of March my senior year in high school,” he said. “I had already committed to Dartmouth, even though it was just a verbal. Duke was enticing, offering some good stuff, but I stayed true to my commitment. Going to an Ivy League school is a special opportunity and I wanted to make the most of it.”

That the history major modified by economics has done.

As a freshman he got into all 10 games, earning the first of four starts at strong safety against Yale and finishing eighth on the team in tackles after making 30 stops over the final three games.

“That was a great experience,” he said. “I got to play alongside Pete Pidermann, the team captain who mentored me through the whole freshman fall. In my experience, that’s the hardest term at school. You’re leaving home. You are thrown right into a full-on football season and a full-on Ivy League academic course schedule. It’s a big jump, but I feel like I did fairly well.”

He did even better the next fall, starting all 10 games at free safety and receiving the team’s Doten Award as the sophomore who contributed the most to the team’s defensive success while leading the Big Green with 61 tackles.

Waggoner injured his knee in the scrimmage against Harvard before his junior year and after playing in pain at what he estimated was 75 percent at best, he listened to the medical professionals and made a tough call.

“It just wasn’t getting any better and was going to deteriorate if I continued playing on it,” he said. “So the decision was made to shut down the rest of the season and hopefully petition for a fifth year.”

Waggoner spent the rest of the season as a hybrid manager-student coach, helping where he could, moving equipment around on the field and soaking up everything he could in meetings and film sessions. Recognized by his teammates for his dedication and leadership as much as for his ability, he was elected a team captain in the spring of 2012 and then went on to earn a spot on the All-Ivy League First Team last fall.

Waggoner credits his injury for helping him become the player he is today.

“I was kind of a late bloomer and being able to come back for a fifth season allowed me to catch up,” he said. “In hindsight, I guess the injury could be seen as a blessing in disguise. I was really down in the dumps for a while, but then I realized being down about it wasn’t going to help. I had to have a positive attitude about my injury.”

Re-elected a captain by his teammates last spring, Waggoner spent the summer working out in Florida with a couple of trainers who have helped prepare more than 130 NFL draft picks ranging from Eddie George to Deion Sanders. While there’s been a growing push to have Dartmouth players spend their summers in Hanover working under the watchful eye of strength coach Dave Jenkerson, McCorkle wasn’t remotely concerned that Waggoner was lolling on the Gulf Coast beaches instead of hitting the gym.

“He does a very good job working hard on the football field, but it’s with the off-season stuff he does that he really separates himself from a lot of football players,” McCorkle said. “Wags is going to be the first guy up in the morning. He’s going to be the first one in the weight room and the last one to leave the weight room. He takes care of his body. He eats the right foods. He drinks the right stuff. Everything that he does physically is for one goal, and that is to be the best football player on the field.”

“I want to play football as long as I’m able,” Waggoner said. “After this season I will be training for either a combine or pro days and see where it goes from there.”

McCorkle thinks Waggoner will get the chance.

“He’s going to have good numbers and test well,” he said. “He’s a big guy and a student of the game who a lot of teams are going to look at as a guy who can cover some wide receivers as a possible outside linebacker.”

And if the NFL scouts wonder if he can play the position, Dartmouth’s associate head coach has a story he can tell them about when he did.

[Tracker]

If he can run and hit as good in the CFL as he appears to have done so far, he ought to be a ratio-breaker beast safety.

[Mike]

 

CFL News @CFL_News

#CFL sources: DB/LB Garrett Waggoner has been granted National status and will be in #CFL Supplemental Draft. via @JDunk12

 

Any intel?

 

 

Kent Austin should know all about him. His resume seems interesting enough that a team might be willing to spend a second or third round pick on him. I would imagine Winnipeg will be interested.

[mbrg]

Whoever we draft at #2, I think we are hoping he performs at some point this season...  Unless we're fine with JFG and Kohlert all year.

 

Well we can hope all we want.  If we draft any player at any position, getting regular non-injured-starter snaps from him is pure gravy, not something to bank on.  If we draft a receiver at 2, the realistic hope is that he'll be able to fill in for a tired or injured Kohlert/JFG without the offence missing a beat.  If you're hoping that he outright beats out one of these guys for their job, history has shown that there's a high probability your hopes will be met with disappointment.  He might have a ton of skill, but that doesn't change the amount of time it takes to transition from the CIS to the CFL.

[gbill2004]

What good is a receiver if you can't keep your QB upright to get him the ball? Bombers are going OL with the 2nd overall pick.

[Goalie]

You seem so convinced, like it's a certainty almost, do you have some inside knowledge that others do not? 

 

Or is that the bottom line cuz GBill said so? 

[Atomic]

What good is a receiver if you can't keep your QB upright to get him the ball? Bombers are going OL with the 2nd overall pick.

 

What good is an OL when your receivers can't get open or catch the ball?  Bombers are going receiver with the 2nd overall pick.

[gbill2004]

What good is a receiver if you can't keep your QB upright to get him the ball? Bombers are going OL with the 2nd overall pick.

What good is an OL when your receivers can't get open or catch the ball? Bombers are going receiver with the 2nd overall pick.

[Goalie]

just a message to MIKE: make sure you wear those shorts for about 5 days straight, eat lots of burritos,tacos, east indian food too. Thanks. 

[gbill2004]

just a message to MIKE: make sure you wear those shorts for about 5 days straight, eat lots of burritos,tacos, east indian food too. Thanks.

lol!

[Goalie]

But seriously, 3 picks in the top 15.

 

Current National OL on the roster - Griffiths,Everett,Neufeld,Picard,Greaves,Goossen. 3 will start. 4 will be rostered

 

Current National Receivers - Kohlert,JFG,Bastien,Reaves. 2 will start...  wouldn't 2 others need to back up? Reaves is PR bound FOR SURE.. 

 

tells me they will go Demski at 2 as there will be OLINE available at 11 and 15 for sure, Maybe not the "top ranked guys" but really those rankings mean nothing. Some of those top guys will be looking to the NFL in a few years and the NFL will WILL give them a chance,, see ben heenan and Brett Jones.

 

The only way i see them not going Demski at 2 is if in his interviews, Demski tells every other team he will only play for the Bombers. 

[Floyd]

But seriously, 3 picks in the top 15.

 

Current National OL on the roster - Griffiths,Everett,Neufeld,Picard,Greaves,Goossen. 3 will start. 4 will be rostered

 

Current National Receivers - Kohlert,JFG,Bastien,Reaves. 2 will start...  wouldn't 2 others need to back up? Reaves is PR bound FOR SURE.. 

 

tells me they will go Demski at 2. 

 

Or Waud changes the ratio.  And you have Kohlert, JFG, Bastien filling one spot.

 

You're right - its kind of crazy to think #2 will step in and perform... but we need him to do just that.  DL is the most realistic place for a new prospect to come in and perform asap.

[Goalie]

Anderson,Turner,Collins and others makes me think we are going all american on the DLINE.. 

 

I think it's pretty obvious we will have 2 canadians on D, one LB, one DB...

 

The rest will be on the O side of things. 

[Atomic]

 

 

What good is a receiver if you can't keep your QB upright to get him the ball? Bombers are going OL with the 2nd overall pick.

What good is an OL when your receivers can't get open or catch the ball? Bombers are going receiver with the 2nd overall pick.

OL is the foundation of a football team.

We will see on May 12. I'll eat Mike's shorts if the Bombers don't go OL with their 2nd overall. This is of course barring any trades...

 

 

I think using the second overall pick on guaranteeing themselves a top OL is still a safe move, that they pretty much can't get wrong.  But I also think they want someone who will contribute this year, and it seems more likely to me that a receiver like Demski has a better chance of doing so.  If they pick Chungh or Groulx or whomever, I won't be disappointed because we'll be getting a stud OL.  But the way I see it, the way our roster is configured now, we can have Goossen step in and probably play pretty well if one of our starting Canadian OL go down.  If Kohlert or JFG go down (and is JFG even a starting-caliber receiver?  I like him but he has a lot to prove), then we have Bastien or Millington coming in as a starter.  Yikes.  That scares me a bit, a lot more than Goossen starting.

[Doublezero]

 

What good is a receiver if you can't keep your QB upright to get him the ball? Bombers are going OL with the 2nd overall pick.

 

What good is an OL when your receivers can't get open or catch the ball?  Bombers are going receiver with the 2nd overall pick.

 

Agree. Is there much to choose between Durant and Demski? If not, they will select the homer.

[Adrenaline_x]

OL has been such a trouble spot for the past 4 years i'm thinking they will be going OL for pick number 2.   What was our biggest issue last year?  Willy was getting beaten (heheh) because the OL was letting guys through instantly and he had very little time to setup and throw the ball or find an open receiver.

 

 

If we have the best Recieving core but no time to throw to them it doesn't matter.  If you have the best oline but no star recievers, well the reciever are still going to get open or make a play maybe not as easily as a Star reciever.. if not you throw to one of the other 4-5 recievers on the field and trade, draft a receiver next year. 

 

Picard is aging and will need to be replaced in the next year(s) so we better have someone to take his place.

 

My thoughts anyhow.

[gbill2004]

Remember, if Bombers go OL at 2 overall, one of Richards or Harty will be available at 11.  Two very good WRs, which addresses the Bombers lack of WR depth for you guys concerned about that.

 

Bombers go Demski at 2 overall, very unlikely there's a top rated OL remaining at 11.  Way too risky going Demski at 2 overall.   

[Atomic]

Remember, if Bombers go OL at 2 overall, one of Richards or Harty will be available at 11.  Two very good WRs, which addresses the lack of WR depth for you guys concerned about that.

 

Bombers go Demski at 2 overall, very unlikely there's a top rated OL remaining at 11.  Way too risky going Demski at 2 overall.   

 

Lots of question marks surrounding Harty and Richards.  Far more so than Demski or Durant.  In both scenarios, we are getting a second-tier player at the 11th pick, whether it is a second-tier OL or second-tier receiver is the question.

[SPuDS]

CFL teams are built from lines out.. Especially for continuality and sustainability., this is why Walters will draft a lineman.. D or O but probably Oline..

[M.O.A.B.]

What good is a receiver if you can't keep your QB upright to get him the ball? Bombers are going OL with the 2nd overall pick.

 

With Greaves, Picard, Goossen, Neufeld, Everett an OL pick at #2 or #11 will likely wont play this season unless an injury happen. Bombers can still pick a serviceable vet OL that will come loose after TC.  

 

I think they need a Demski (or Durant) who can play (I didn't say start) right away to help with the ratio and depth at WR position.

[wookie]

does that draft work the same as the reg draft, ie ottawa gets to pick him he they give up their first pick in the 2016 draft, is that correct, of course all teams could pass and then u pick him in the 3rd rd and only lose that pick

 

i think that is how it works

[gbill2004]

CFL teams are built from lines out.. Especially for continuality and sustainability., this is why Walters will draft a lineman.. D or O but probably Oline..

Compare building a football team to building a car.  The OL is the engine.  Receivers are the spoiler. 

[TBURGESS]

I don't expect our top draft pick to be a starter this year.  Best choice for a part time starter this year is Waud as a rotation player.  That would give the other two DT's some needed rest and allow us to use a DI to replace either the NI WIL or the NI CB when Waud rotates in.  

 

Probably the best long term use of our #2 pick to solidify our O line.  Greaves and Picard are starters.  Neufeld and Goosen are penciled in as the RG and 6th O lineman and Neuf is a huge injury concern.  Everett and Griffiths are complete unknowns.  Might be good depth.  Might be TC fodder.  Using our top draft pick on a OL would make a lot of sense because it's more than likely that our pick would be better than either of our backups and might be needed on the game day roster if Neuf goes down yet again. 

 

I'd love to see either Demski or Durant in Bomber blue, but I don't think using the second overall on a receiver gets us good value out of it.  Sure, we are razor thin at NI receiver, but that's an easy place to hide a player that's not up to snuff.  Just put him wide on the back side and say Rookie go long.  Unless there's a run on receivers, there should be at least 1 good one available when we pick in the second round.  We don't need an NI receiver to start this year.  Pick a youngun in the 2nd round and give them a year to work their way into the lineup.

[Floyd]

 

CFL teams are built from lines out.. Especially for continuality and sustainability., this is why Walters will draft a lineman.. D or O but probably Oline..

Compare building a football team to building a car.  The OL is the engine.  Receivers are the spoiler.